November 30, 2007

How to Enjoy the Journey?

We hear Abraham advise us over and over again to enjoy the journey; not to suspend our "feel good" for when this that or the other happens, but rather find a way to feel good NOW. To appreciate the unfolding of the manifestation, and enjoy the desire we're feeling for something that hasn't unfolded yet.

That sounds great, and from an LOA perspective it makes good sense - but practicing it can be a whole 'nuther story.

I mean, how do we enjoy being single while we'd rather be in love? How do we appreciate our bodies when we desperately want to drop 20 pounds? How do we feel good about our jobs that we're dying (sometimes literally) to leave behind?

Although enjoying the unmanifested desire is easier said than done, it is a skill worth cultivating.

Because when we learn to enjoy NOW .. when we don't lose hold of our "feel good" just because a big new desire reveals itself, we stay in vibrational alignment with that new desire which allows it to manifest more swiftly. Plus it just plain feels good!

So how do we do it? How do we stop hinging our joy and happiness on something happening (or not happening) and learn to be joyful and happy no matter what, right now?

The answer may be right under your nose.

... if you're a dog lover, that is.

Dogs have this skill mastered, as any dog lover knows. They know all about joy in THIS present immediate moment. For them, there is no "feel good when ... " Rather, it's ALL good, all the time. 24/7, they are good to go.

It's time for a walk? Yay!! Time for a nap? Lovely!! We're eating next? Woo hoo!! The mail is here? Ruff ruff! It's time to play? OMG!! Going for a ride? wag wag wag

These guys are ridiculously easy to please. Sadie thumped her tail on the floor last night just because I looked at her.

What if we could adopt their attitude? Ed Mills' said in a recent post that he uses the phrase "it's all good" to remind himself that everying is right. I like that, and I like even more that a dog never has to remind himself that it's all good. He gets it. That's all he knows. What a blessing!

"Think like your dog."

In fact, those were Martha Beck's parting instructions to me on my call with her this week.

She meant it in terms of don't hold it against your boyfriend that he is a callous meat eater who refuses to acknowledge his role in the misery and suffering of millions of animals. Well, she didn't say it exactly like that, but you can probably tell the part that was her and the part that was me. (My part didn't sound very much like my dog.)

This came up because I told Martha my current point of suffering was that Russ refused to watch Earthlings when I asked him to. I was frustrated not only because he denied my request without consideration, but also because he's choosing willful ignorance. I know it doesn't sound very good vibe of me, but there I was. Frustrated. Resentful. Going from sunny to cloudy & gray in an instant.

She asked, "What good are you doing anyone by suffering?" Is it helping the animals? Nope. Is it helping your relationship? Definitely not. Is it helping you? Uh, big no.

"Then let go of the suffering," she said. Stop torturing yourself. You'll make a better contribution when you're not miserable.

Shoot, I know all this. It's a little embarrassing to have to be told.

But it is what it is. I'm letting myself off the hook and getting back on track.

And frontloading my schedule with dog time. Knowing that not only will it be good for me, but more time with them teaches me even better how to enjoy the journey.

Enjoying the journey. It's all good now. Everything is perfect. We are not here to fix a broken world. The world is not broken. We are not broken. We are perfect, whole and complete eternal beings of love, light and joy. Completely worthy and deserving of all happiness, right now, just as is.

(Repeat if necessary.)

Let's have a good time, huh? Ed's right. It IS all good. Let's enjoy the journey, and if you need help, look to your dog. As Doug Autenrieth told me at the international coach conference last month, dogs are the original coaches.

And hats off to whoever had the idea of dogs. That has to be one of the most brilliant manifestations ever!

13 comments:

  1. Right on sistah -- preach!! It is all good ... especially this blog entry!

    In all seriousness Jeanette, your wisdom, insight and ability to make synchronous connections... very often with seemingly disparate occurrences, continues to astound!

    I love love love your blog!!

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  2. I found your blog by accident, or was it. I know that the LOA directed me to your blog becuase I asked for help in understanding and applying LOA. I have followed it for several months now and just want you to know how much you have helped me. You have a great approach to it all and you seem very sincere. Some of the other sites have seemed to be just ways to sell things but you seem to be genuinely trying to help people become who they can be. I am eternally grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

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  3. Ah Jeanette, thanks for the reminder, and thanks for showing us you're also still on the learning curve. That helps more than you know! ;)

    This is the most beautiful sentence: "Sadie thumped her tail on the floor last night just because I looked at her."

    For me it sums up that Joy In The Moment Flow that we would all like to enter. Pure joy and peace. After a bumpy week, I'm opening my hands again and enjoying the moment.

    Joy & Peace to you too!

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  4. What a beautiful post from Sadie thumping her tail to we are not here to fix a broken world.
    YOU are a beautiful writer Jeannette - I am cherishing this one!
    purrrrfect.

    Love Leslie

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  5. Thanks for the kind words, Paulette and Anonymous! It gave me a nice lift. It's an honor to have you coming back to read!

    And please know how grateful I am that you're posting your thoughts. It means a lot to me!

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  6. Same to you, Pippa and Leslie. You make it safe to share my truth and it's nice to know someone else is getting something from it as well.

    And Leslie, that "we're not here to fix a broken world" I got from Abraham in Ask and It Is Given. When I read those words three years ago I felt a powerful internal shift. Nothing was the same after reading those words. I'll never forget them!

    Okay, maybe sometimes I will. lol After watching Earthlings, for example. lol

    But I come back to center much easier now than I used to. Thanks for being on the journey with me, girlfriends. :)

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  7. Jeannette. Thanks so much for the link! I agree, dogs are great coaches, as are kids. And there's nothing like sticking your head out the window and feeling that wind in your face! Almost as good is the feeling of sticking your hand out the window and "flying" down the road!

    And fyi, at my drop in LOA meeting this morning, someone quoted you from the comment you left on the post.

    You have officially reached out beyond the confines of the blogosphere!

    It's all good.

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  8. Good to hear from you again, Ed! And thanks for the link in your personal growth resource roundup! For those of you who haven't discovered it yet:

    http://www.evolvingtimes.com/2007/12/personal-growth-resource-roundup-6.htm

    Ed's up to great stuff! In fact, having him in my world is part of my evidence that I'm on the right track.

    Thanks for being part of my creation, Ed!

    Namaste -

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  9. I don't have a dog but I am in love with one! My sister travels a lot and my daughter and I get to watch her boxer 4-6 xs a week. (Basically, my sister only has weekend visitation).

    You are right, dogs are an EXCELLENT reminder of how to get joy out of every moment of every day.

    www.journeytopurposeblog.blogspot.com

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  10. Thanks for pointing out that we don't have to have our OWN dog in order to get the benefits from them!

    Loved your stillness ritual, T, as well as your story about following your personal legend.

    Thanks for posting here!

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  11. Jeannette. You're right on pointing out that the great people in our lives are an indication that we're vibrating positively. So right back atcha! Thanks for being a "sign" that I'm on track!

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  12. I am loving your blog and website! I have told everyone I can think of that would also appreciate it! Three times each. They must think I'm obsessed. I'm a dog and cat lover, also. A dog groomer by trade(among other things:)) I wanted to pass along a link to my fellow dog lovers/LOA learners :https://www9.mailordercentral.com/cloudstar/prodinfo.asp?number=030 This particular bumper sticker is plastered on the back of my car, twice, actually. When I like something, I go all out!! Thank you, Jeanette, for sharing your thoughts so freely, warmly, and eloquently!!

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  13. Ha!! Amy, I LOVE the bumper sticker! What great life instruction, huh? lol

    Thanks for reading, for posting, and also for spreading the word, Amy. I know I'm doing something right when I'm attracting wonderful energy like yours!

    Namaste, my dear.

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